The door to Leroy's truck was open like a shot, but the man himself was shaking so hard that he forgot to unbuckle his seat belt. He fumbled with it frantically as he tried to climb out, shouting. "I didn't see her! Holy shit — holy shit — is she alive? Please tell me she's alive! I didn't see her!"

Gold ignored him, pressing his fingers to Belle's throat to check her pulse. But his hands were shaking badly, so he could only feel how cold her skin was. So cold, and so, so pale. He closed his eyes for a moment. Only for a moment. He couldn't allow himself to feel — not relief, not surprise, not anything. Not yet.

"Call for an ambulance," he told Leroy.

"Oh shit, oh shit shit shit…" But Leroy managed to snap off his seat belt and lurched forward onto the pavement. He dug in his pockets for his cell.

"I've got it." Gold heard the good Sheriff Swan's voice behind him, heard the purposeful squelch of her sneakers as she strode towards them. She crouched down next to Gold, her radio already hissing. "This is Emma Swan with the SPD. We need an ambulance on Main, right in front of the police department — "

Gold ran his eyes over Belle. Taking in each injury. Filing it away. Her head was bleeding, but not badly. He doubted it would require any stitches. Some scratches on her arms, hands, nothing serious. But she was very cold. He jerked his coat off, ignoring the pain radiating up his bad leg, and tucked it around her. He couldn't tell about her spine, and he didn't dare move her, but her right leg was bent at an unnatural angle. Gold took her hand and chafed it. Later, he would hate that it was all he could do. Later, much later, he would allow himself to acknowledge it. How it felt. The weight of it. Her hand in his, real and solid.

"Ambulance is on their way," Emma said, and Gold only realized that Dr. Hopper was there when she added, "Don't suppose you can help us out here, doc?"

"I attend the hospital's First Aid and CPR sessions regularly," Dr. Hopper replied, sounding so calm and composed that Gold glanced up at the man. Allowed himself to feel a measure of surprise and impressed. "Her breathing is steady, as is her pulse," Dr. Hopper continued, checking both in a smooth and efficient manner. "I can't say anything about internal injuries, but I'm sure Dr. Whale will be there once she gets to the hospital."

Gold heard himself say, "Her leg is broken." If Leroy was lucky, it would be a clean break.

"Um, yes." Dr. Hopper's eyes flickered over to him for an instant. "Best to let the paramedics deal with that. When they get here."

"Sheriff! Sheriff Swan, I demand that you arrest — " The voice, strident, demanding, regal, rang out from behind them, then abruptly cut off.

Gold looked over.

The Mayor stood there, on the curb, the door to the police station swinging shut behind her, clutching one arm to her chest. Her hair was, for once, less than perfect. Gold knew what she saw. The truck. The sheriff and the cricket, crouched down, fussing. Belle. Him.

The Mayor eyes narrowed, but she tossed back her head, and raised an eyebrow, like a challenge. "That poor girl. I do hope someone has called for help."

"I don't have time for this, Regina," the sheriff tossed off. In the distance, there were sirens.

The Mayor lifted one shoulder in an elegant shrug. "I do hope she doesn't die…" And then blinked in surprise when the sheriff shot to her feet and rounded on her. "Regina, for once in your life shut the fuck up!"

The Mayor gaped at the sheriff, halfway between shock and fury, as if the blonde woman had slapped her. "How — how — dare you — "

"I don't have time to deal with you now," Emma cut her off. "Go stir your cauldron or paint your nails or whatever the hell it is you do all day, but go away."

"You don't have time — " But the good Sheriff Swan had turned her back on the Mayor as the ambulance screeched to a halt a few feet away. The Mayor drew herself up, and slowly pulled her gaze back to Gold.

He turned back to Belle. The paramedics had already secured her injured leg and eased her onto a stretcher. They hoisted her into the back of the ambulance, and no one tried to stop him as he climbed in after. Or, if they did, he didn't hear them.

He promised himself, he would feel everything later.

Particularly the anger.